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Istanbul in One Day: Old City, Balat & Bosphorus Cruise

Activity provider: AsiaByLocals
Istanbul in One Day: Old City, Balat & Bosphorus Cruise
Istanbul in One Day: Old City, Balat & Bosphorus Cruise 2
Istanbul in One Day: Old City, Balat & Bosphorus Cruise 3
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Full-day trip from Istanbul visiting Cable car, Pierre Loti Hill and Balat. Operated by Eavar Dreams Travel.

Highlights

  • Discover Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and the historic Hippodrome

Istanbul in One Day: Old City, Balat & Bosphorus Cruise: Key Facts

PriceFrom $428 per person
Duration10 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 1 available option

Istanbul in One Day: Old City, Balat & Bosphorus Cruise

Full-day trip from Istanbul visiting Cable car, Pierre Loti Hill and Balat. Operated by Eavar Dreams Travel.
10 hours
English
$428
Free cancellation

Full description

A full-day trip out of Istanbul taking in Cable car, Pierre Loti Hill, Balat and Sultanahmet Square. The longest stop is Balat, at about 1 hour. There are 7 stops in all.

The running order is Cable car (10 min), then Pierre Loti Hill (40 min), then Balat (1h), then Sultanahmet Square (45 min), then Basilica Cistern (1h), and on from there.

The price covers entrance to Basilica Cistern, Guided tour of Sultanahmet Square, Visit to Balat Neighborhood and Cable car ride to Pierre Loti Hill. It does not cover meals, Personal expenses and Tips, so budget for those separately. Two travellers pay $508 together rather than $428 each, because this is priced per party and not per head.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Pickup location:

Istanbul

Van

(30 minutes)

Cable car

(10 minutes)

Pierre Loti Hill

Visit (40 minutes)

Van

(15 minutes)

Balat

Visit (75 minutes)

Sultanahmet Square

Visit (45 minutes)

Basilica Cistern

Visit (1 hour)

Spice Bazaar, Istanbul

Visit (1.5 hours)

Bosphorus Strait

Visit (1.5 hours)

Arrive back at:

Istanbul

Includes

  • Entrance to Basilica Cistern
  • Guided tour of Sultanahmet Square
  • Visit to Balat Neighborhood
  • Cable car ride to Pierre Loti Hill
  • Visit to Grand Bazaar
  • Visit to Egyptian Bazaar
  • Bosphorus Cruise
  • English speaking local guide
  • Private transfer with van

Excludes

  • Meals
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips
  • Entrance tickets not mentioned in the itinerary

Important information

Meeting point

The operator confirms the exact meeting point and time once your booking is confirmed, and you will have it well before the day. If you would rather know before you book, message us on WhatsApp and we will ask them for you.

Weather

This runs outdoors, so the operator can call it off for rain, wind or sea conditions, and that decision is usually made on the day. If they cancel, you choose: another date, or your money back in full. We do not keep a booking fee on a tour that did not run.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 10 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $428
$428
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
We reply within 5 minutes
Free cancellation
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Entrance to Basilica Cistern, Guided tour of Sultanahmet Square, Visit to Balat Neighborhood, Cable car ride to Pierre Loti Hill, Visit to Grand Bazaar, Visit to Egyptian Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, English speaking local guide, Private transfer with van
The duration of the Istanbul in One Day: Old City, Balat & Bosphorus Cruise is typically 10 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Starting from$428Free cancellation